Refrigerating apparatus



J. G. KING Oct. 27, 1931.

REFRIGERAT ING APPARATUS Filed Feb.' 6, 1926 Patented a. 27, 1931 9 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JESSE G. KING, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ABSIGNOB, IBY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO FBIGIDAIBB CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OIE DELAWARE BEFBIGERATING urm'rus Application filed I'ebruary 8, 1926. Serial No. 86,591.

This invention relates to cooling units for mechanical refrigerators.

An object of thisinvention is to provide a simple and eflicient form of cooling unit having a large longitudinal dimension compared to its transverse dimensions whereby said unit may be conveniently located within a long relatively narrow space. This type of coolingunit is adapted for use in the conven- 33 tional form of display cases found in restaurants, lunch rooms, delicatessens, etc., which have a long narrow'compartment extending longitudinally of the case and wherein cracked ice is ordinarily kept for maintaining 15. the case at a lower temperature. The cooling unit of this invention is designed to fit within such long narrow compartments by extending the cooling tubes only in the same direction with the long dimension of the header tank to 30 which the tubes are connected and which serves as a liquid refrigerant reservoir for said tubes.

Further objects and advantages of the resent invention will be apparent from the ollowing description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

0 Fig. 1 shows an end view of a formof displa case. having a part of the end wall bro en away showing the front end view of a coolin unit built according to this invention locate therein.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the cooling Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cooling unit. Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation of the cooling unit.

Similar reference characters refer to 51milar parts throughout the several views.

Numeral 1O designates the cylindrical header or tank which is provided with a front cover plate l1 which is rigidly held to the flange 12 of cylinderby the cap screws 13.

Liquid refrigerant is 'led to tank 10 through the pipe connection 15 and the vaporized refrigerant is led from the tank through the u per pipe connection 16. A suitable type of float valve 17 is contained within the tank I ;1 0-to maintain the liquid level therein constant at some point below the vapor outlet 16.

.relation and project rearwardly therefrom,

as clearly shown in the drawings, any desired distance in order to extend substantial- 'ly the full length of the display case or other long compartment cooled thereby. The lower connection 21 of the loops 20 to the tank 10 are staggered as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The loops 20 are preferabl all bent up to substantially the same shape efore assembling to the tank 10 for purposes of economy in manufacture. Therefore the staggering of the connections 21 gives a corresponding variation in the lengths of the loops, as clearly shown in 'Figs. 2 and 3. The upper connections 22 of the loops 20 are made in the rear head 23 of the tank 10 and thus no bends on this end of the tubes is required in order to make the proper connections to the tank 10. The connections 22 are also staggered as clearly shownin Figs. 2 and 4, in order that proper spaclng may be obtained.

The loops 20 are preferably spread apart slightly at their rear end in order to obtain greater spacing and hence better heat transfer with the mediumcooled thereby.- The loops 20 are held rigidly in their spaced position by the transverse bands 25-which are soldered firmly to the tubes. The'loops 20 are preferably made from seamless'copper tubing and have great rigidity when bound together by the bands 25. Hence, this elongated cooling unit may be conveniently inserted and supported within a similar shaped compartment.

It is apparent from the disclosure that vaporization or boiling takes place in both the upper and lower legs of tubes 20 and 1t 1s also apparent that should the tubes be flattened or pinched accidentally or on purpose, as is often the case, boilin w1ll still take place on both sides of the attened portion anlile the'loop will function as two separate tu s. V

Fig. 1 shows an end view of an elongated brine tank which extends the full len h of the display case 31, the brine tank 30 ing so positioned and of such dimensions that it does not materially detract from the ap-.

pearances of the glass walled display case. The cooling unit shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 is suitably supported within the brine tank 30 and maintains the brine at the desired temperature. The air within the display case 31 circulates around the outside of the brine tank 30 and is cooled thereby.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes 'a preferred form, it is to be understood that ot er forms might be adopted, all commg within the $00 e of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprising: an elon ated header tank adapted to contain liqui refrigerant at a substantially constant level, a plurality of duct loops each havin a plurality of legs connected to said hea er, one of said legs being connected to one end wall of said tank tank adapte and rojectin a substantial distance in the longltudinal irection of said tank.

2. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprising: an elon ated header tank adapted to contain liqui refrigerant at a substantially constant level a plurality of duct loops connected in parallel to said head.- er, said loops each having one le connected to one end wall of said tank an projecting a substantial distance in the lon 'tudinal dlrection of said tank, and a second eg lying relatively close to said first leg and connected to a lateral wall of said tank.

3. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comgrising: an elon%ated header to contain liqui at a substantially constant level, a plurality of duct loops each having the ends thereof connected to said header, said loops'being so shaped and disposed relative to one another and to the tank that they form a horizontally elongated group having transverse dimenslons approximating those of said tank.

4. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprismg: an elongated header tank adapted to contain liquid refrigerant at a substantially constant level, a plurality of duct loops connected in parallel -.to said header, said loops each having one le connected to one end wall of'saidtank an projecting a substantial distance' in the longitudinal direction of said tank, and a second leg lying relatively close to said first leg and connected to a lateral wall of said tank, and means for rigidly holding said loops in spaced relation and therebyforming a. substantially rigid construction.

5. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerrefrigerant taining a quantity of volatlle liquid refrigerating medium, a plurality of ducts connected with the header for circulating the refrigerating medium, portions of sa1d ducts being connected to one end wall of said header and other portions being connected to a lateral wall of said header and projecting a substantial distance in the longitudinal direction of said header.

7. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprising: a header containing a quantity of volatile liquid refrigerating medium, a plurality of duct loops connected with the header for circulating refrigerant medium, said loops being so shaped and disposed relative to one another and to the header that they form a horizontally elongated group, having transverse dimensions approximating those of said header.

8. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprismg: an elongated and horizontally disposed tank containing a uantity of yolatile liquid refrigerating me ium, conduit means connected with the tank for circulating the refrigerating mediuin, said means being connected to one end wall of said tank and ro'ecting a substantial distance inthe long1tu inal direction of said tank.

, 9. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprising: an elongated and horizontally disposed tank containing a quantity of volatile liquid refrigerating medium, conduit means connected with the tank for circu-. lating the refri erating medium, a portion of said means ing connected in one end wall of the tank and another portion being connected to a lateral wall of said tank, said.

portions pro ecting a substantial distance in the longitudinal direction of said tank.

10. In combination, an elongated brine tank and a cooling unit for cooling the brine, said cooling unit comprising an elongated header containing a quantity of volatile liquid refrigerating medium and disposed within and adjacent one end of the brine tank, a plurality of ducts connected with the header for circulating the refri rating medium, said ducts being connecte to one end wall of said header and projecting asubstantial distance in the longitudinal direction of said header and toward the other end of said brine tank.

11. In combination, an elongated brine tank and a cooling for cooling the brine,

said cooling unit comprising an elongated header containing a uantity of volatile liquid refrigerating medium and disposed within and adjacent one end of the brine tank, a plurality of ducts connected with the header for circulating the refrigerating medium, portions of said ducts being connected to one end wall of said header and other portions being connected to a lateral wall of said header and toward the other end of said brine tank.

12. A horizontally elongated evaporator unit having a spike-like portion comprising a compact group of long slender horizontally disposed tubes arranged in different horizontal and different vertical planes and forming the greater part of the horizontal length of the unit, means forming a fluid connection between the tubes including a header, said header having an inlet for liquid refrigerant and an outlet for gaseous refrigerant, and means for controlling the liquid refrigerant level Within the header.

13. A horizontally elongated evaporator unit having a spike-like portion comprising a compact group of long slender horizontally disposed tubes arranged in different horizontal and different vertical planes and forming the greater part of the horizontal length of the unit, means forming a fluid connection between the outer ends of the tubes, a header connecting the inner ends of the tubes, and means for controlling the refrigerant level within the header.

14. A horizontally elongated evaporator unit having a spike-like portion comprising a compacthorizontal group of long slender tubes forming the greater part of the horizontal length of the unit, said tubes provide a plurality of hair pin shaped loops, a header connecting the ends of the loops, and means for controlling the refrigerant level within the header.

15. An evaporator for mechanical refrigerators comprising a cylindrical header containi g a quantity of volatile refrigerant, a

-comp ct horizontal group of long slender tubes forming the greater length of the evaporator, certain of said tubes being connected with the cylindrical wall of-the header and certain of said tubes being connected with an end wall of the header.

16. An evaporator for mechanical refrigerators comprisin a cylindrical header containing a quantity of volatile refrigerant a compact horizontal grou of long slen er tubes forming the greater ength of the evaporator, said tubes providing a plurality of hair-pin shaped loops, one end of-a'tube 'being' connected with the cylindrical wall of the header and the other end of the tube being connected with an end wall of the header.

compact group of long slender horizontally disposed tubes arranged indifi'erent horizontal and different vertical planes and forming the greater length of the evaporator, said tubes providing at least one circuit for refrigerant having the ends thereof connected with the cylindrical wall and an end wall of the header respectively.

18. An evaporator for mechanical refrigerators comprising a cylindrical header containing a volatile liquid refrigerant, a compact group of slender tubes having long horizontal runs arranged in different horizontal and vertical planes, said tubes being connected with the header and forming a plurality of horizontally disposed hair-pin shaped loops, one end of a tube being connected with the cylindrical wall of the header and the other end of the tube being connected with an end wall of the header.

19. An evaporator for mechanical refrigerators comprising a cylindrical header containing a volatile liquid refrigerant, a compact group of slender tubes having long horizontal runs arranged in different horizontal and vertical planes, said tubes being connected with the header, certain ofsaid tubes being connected with the cylindrical wall of the header and certain of said tubes being connected with an end wall of the header, the opposite end wall of the header having a liquid refrigerant inlet and a gaseous refrigerant outlet, and means responsive to the quantity of liquid refrigerant in the header for controlling the flow of refrigerant through said inlet.

20. An evaporator for mechanical refrigerators comprising a cylindrical header containing a volatile liquid refrigerant, a compact group of slender tubes having long horizontal runs arranged in different horizontal and vertical planes, said tubes forming at least one circuit for refrigerant having the ends thereof connected with the cylindrical wall and-an end wall of the header respectively.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

' JESSE G. KING.

17. An evaporator for mechancial refriger- 

